HomeMy WebLinkAbout22265 1 ORDINANCE NO. 22,265
2
3 AN ORDINANCE IMPOSE A SUNDAY THROUGH SATURDAY
4 JUVENILE CURFEW FROM 9:00 PM TO 5:00 AM IN ANY DESIGNATED
5 ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT WITHIN THE CITY OF LITTLE ROCK,
6 ARKANSAS; TO IMPOSE A SUNDAY THROUGH SATURDAY
7 JUVENILE CURFEW FROM 9:00 PM TO 5:00 AM IN ANY DESIGNATED
8 CITY PARK; TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY; AND, FOR OTHER
9 PURPOSES.
10
11 WHEREAS,the City of Little Rock,Arkansas("the City"),has in place a Juvenile Curfew Ordinance
12 throughout the corporate limits of the City from Sunday through Thursday night for the hours of 10:00 PM
13 until 5:00 AM,as set forth in Little Rock,Ark., Rev. Code § 17.5-24(a)(1988); and,
14 WHEREAS,pursuant to Arkansas State Law as set out in Ark.Code Ann. § 14-54-1412, as amended
15 by 2023 ARK.ACTS 334--and as may be further amended in the future--,any particular area that has been
16 declared a Temporary,or a Permanent,Entertainment District in accordance with the Little Rock,Arkansas,
17 Code of Ordinances and is operating as such;and,
18 WHEREAS, such Entertainment Districts not only permit the sale of alcoholic beverages, but also
19 permit people to be on the streets with alcoholic beverages in such Districts; and,
20 WHEREAS, such a situation makes it virtually impossible for the City to protect juveniles from the
21 illegal use of alcohol, or effectively enforce of the laws that prohibit the illegal use or access to alcoholic
22 beverages by juveniles; and,
23 WHEREAS, the City does not have sufficient Law Enforcement Officers to patrol City Parks in the
24 evening hours, particularly parks which abut a Permanent or Temporary Entertainment District, to assure
25 that juveniles are not subject to the use or abuse of alcoholic beverages within a public park; and,
26 WHEREAS,the City believes that in this particular areas juveniles should be accompanied by adults,
27 or not be permitted to be in such places.
28 NOW,THEREFORE,BE IT ORDAINED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE CITY
29 OF LITTLE ROCK,ARKANSAS:
30 Section 1. Little Rock, Ark., Rev. Code § 17.5-24(a)(1988) is hereby amended to read as follows:
31 (a)(1) It shall be unlawful for any minor to be upon the streets, sidewalks, parks,
32 playgrounds,public places,vacant lots,or to ride in or upon, drive or otherwise operate or
33 be a passenger of any automobile, bicycle, or other vehicle in, upon, over or through the
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streets, or other public places between the hours of 10:00 PM and 5:00 AM, Sunday
2 through Thursday,or 12:00 midnight and 5:00 AM, Friday and Saturday;
3 (2) It shall be unlawful for any minor to be upon the streets, sidewalks, playgrounds,
4 public places,vacant lots,or to ride in or upon,drive or otherwise operate or be a passenger
5 of any automobile, bicycle,or other vehicle, over or through or the streets or other public
6 places within parks which abut a Temporary Entertainment District, or a Permanent
7 Entertainment District authorized by ordinance of the Board of Directors and operating as
8 an Entertainment District,Sunday through Saturday between the hours of 9:00 PM,or 5:00
9 AM.
10 Section 2. Severability. In the event any title, section, paragraph, item, sentence, clause, phrase, or
11 word of this ordinance is declared or adjudged to be invalid or unconstitutional, such declaration or
12 adjudication shall not affect the remaining portions of the ordinance which shall remain in full force and
13 effect as if the portion so declared or adjudged invalid or unconstitutional were not originally a part of the
14 ordinance.
15 Section 3. Repealer. All ordinances, resolutions, bylaws, and other matters inconsistent with this
16 ordinance including,but not limited to Little Rock,Ark.,Rev. Code §2-116(1988),and Little Rock,Ark.,
17 Ordinance No.22,215, § 8 (December 20,2022),are hereby repealed to the extent of such inconsistency.
18 Section 4. Emergency Clause. The ability of the City to assure the safety of its minor citizens from
19 being the victims of crime, and to help assure that they do not become the perpetrators of crime, is essential
20 to the public health, safety, and welfare, particularly in areas where the use of alcoholic beverages is
21 permitted such as on open streets in a Temporary or Permanent Entertainment District, or in a public park
22 for which there is little or no supervision or enforcement mechanism during evening hours;an emergency
23 is, therefore, declared to exist and this ordinance shall be in full force and effect from and after the date of
24 its passage.
25 PASSED: June 13,2023
26 • W APPROVED:
27 11111,
28 •�` �
29 Sus.1 a -le , ity Clerk Frank Scott,Jr.,Mayo
30 APPR I i TO LEGAL FORM:
31 /
32 � 144444.44 I •
33 Thomas M. Carpenter, i Attor,'y
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